She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 and has since blazed a multifaceted career across the globe.

And now Dana International will bring it all home, opening the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv.

She’ll open the show with a two song medley including “Tel Aviv” and a special rendition of her 1998 winner “Diva”.

“Tel Aviv” was originally performed by Omer Adam and Arisa. Adam himself ruled out an appearance at Eurovision since it would involve working during the Shabbat.

Israeli media reports it will be a new version of the song. The new version will have an “oriental” feel and feature a performance with dozens of dancers.

Details for what may be this year’s parade of flags segment have also been released.
Each country’s act will arrive by plane and meet Dana International on a special platform.

Not content with kicking things off, Dana will also appear later in the show.
She’ll share the screen in a sketch with UK Eurovision commentator Graham Norton. It is a year of anniversaries for both acts. It is twenty years since Dana brought the contest back to Israel and ten years since Norton began commentating on the contest for the BBC.

International will also feature during the semi-finals.

Addressing the news, Israeli Eurovision broadcaster KAN said:

“We are happy about the great interest in the Eurovision Song Contest in general and the performances in particular. The audience in the venue and the TV viewers will get to watch a show that has not yet been seen before in Israel. We recommend to be patient until the first semi-final on May 14.”

Are you excited to see Dana on stage? What do you make of the grand final news? How do you think the new version of “Diva” will sound? Let us know below!

GET MORE EUROVISION 2019 NEWS HERE

58 Comments
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Cody
Cody
4 years ago

All the comments here just make me hate Eurovision fans.

LawStudent
LawStudent
4 years ago

What I think is great is that Dana started the 1999 Grand Final with her performance of the song “Free” with dozens of dancers around the walls of Jerusalem. I think this opening sequence is an ode to that opening performance and I like that KAN is coming full circle.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  LawStudent

That was not the opening in 1999, it was the main interval act between the songs and voting.

QQQ
QQQ
4 years ago

I’m just hoping, that she will really sing live.

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  QQQ

Let’s hope she doesn’t, for the sake of our ears.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

I agree, I don’t want her to sing live, but I do hope it looks semi-realistic.

Bella
Bella
4 years ago

She was supposed to be an advocate for tolerance and acceptance back when she won in 1998. Since then, she’s just been showing how hateful and ignorant she is, with her regular bursts of anger and hate speeches. She has nothing to do on the ESC stage.

+ I’ve said it again: I’m getting tired of all these special guests: Israel, in case you haven’t noticed you’re hosting Eurovision, not the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Stick to your job and stop trying to grab every celerity you can, no one cares.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

Please elaborate on her “anger” and “hate speeches”…I know she made some problematic comments about Loreen (in character?), but what else?

La Signora
La Signora
4 years ago

I’m 100% happy that Dana is going to open the Final 🙂

Ioa Ioa
Ioa Ioa
4 years ago

There will be more interval acts than the actual entries.

Maruv
4 years ago

I respect the artist, but really I am getting tired of her. She is everywhere lol.

Kyla
Kyla
4 years ago

Who cares about Dana? He’s not even relevant, i just don’t like him

Nitzan
Nitzan
4 years ago

Can ESC fans officially be announced the most complaining and unsatisfied ever?

La Signora
La Signora
4 years ago
Reply to  Nitzan

I feel so bad for them. Poor babies…

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Nitzan

The answer is in your question: they’re ESC fans, no one signed up to see a stupid catwalk of random celebrities. So it’s understandable that people are complaining.

ESC fans want to see singers representing the countries, a cool scoreboard and an exciting voting sequence. No one cares about Madonna, Gal Gadot, now Dana International and next who knows? Natalie Portman? Roger Federer? Daniel Radcliffe? Sacha Baron Cohen? This is ridiculous.

Lilly
Lilly
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

It’s almost like having big names in the interval acts has 0 effect on the things you’re complaining that “ESC fans want to see.”

Valentino
Valentino
4 years ago

Live or playback?

Jonas J
Jonas J
4 years ago

Hosted by Tel Aviv and Israel, Madonna and now this! Annus horribilis!

Elsa
Elsa
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas J

😀

Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas J

Don’t watch, then.

Alex
Alex
4 years ago

If they won’t include Nadav Guedj showing us Tel Aviv I’m going to be so upset.

La Signora
La Signora
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

He is in the army, I think

Rom
Rom
4 years ago
Reply to  La Signora

He got discharged last year i think.

Kobe
Kobe
4 years ago

Who cares for Netta if you can have Diva Dana…

Jonas J
Jonas J
4 years ago

Heaven forbid!

dinner is ready
dinner is ready
4 years ago

”Each country’s act will arrive by plane and meet Dana International on a special platform.”

So it’s not only about opening the show. Dana will welcome the artists. This is different than opening with 2 songs. At this point I think Israel is ashamed of Netta’s looks.

MTD
MTD
4 years ago

So this is officially a Gay Parade?

omfg
omfg
4 years ago
Reply to  MTD

no. they picked her bc she is a part of eurovision history and well-represents her country. she just happens to be trans.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  MTD

She’s not gay, so your comment makes little sense.

OohHoney
OohHoney
4 years ago

I adore Dana and call me old fashioned but it doesn’t feel right having anyone but the previous winner open the Grand Final. It sets the tone for the epic final to the Eurovision season.

Aly Ryan
Aly Ryan
4 years ago
Reply to  OohHoney

Neither last year nor the year before opened with the previous winner.

OohHoney
OohHoney
4 years ago
Reply to  Aly Ryan

I know, and it’s wrong.

dinner is ready
dinner is ready
4 years ago
Reply to  OohHoney

Yes, it’s wrong. Can you see Salvador wanting this responsibility? Portugal had no choice.

Aaron
Aaron
4 years ago

The opening act of Semi final 1 is always the previous years winning song performed as an opening to the next winners contest.
its been that way the last few years, but the winner always performs a new song in the final interval act as well

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

2018 SF1 didn’t start with Salvador Sobral.

Aaron
Aaron
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Sorry your right, the song was performed but not by Salvador

Sonam
Sonam
4 years ago

I think Netta should open the Grand Final and Dana semi 1 for all the obvious reasons

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

Cool. From the general audience’s point of view it’s a familiar face and a familiar song. Also, it would be a nice touch if she added “Viva Netta” to the lyrics.

Aly Ryan
Aly Ryan
4 years ago

Y’all are impossible to please.

Michèle
Michèle
4 years ago

Saw her perform in Amsterdam Eurovision party and really not interested in a repeat performance…

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago

Mahmood better open the show

FanESC
FanESC
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

Close the show, you mean ?

hi guys
hi guys
4 years ago

Hope she will perform ding dong 🙂

mamma mia
mamma mia
4 years ago

How about some “unkown” local artists? Come on…

Maya G
Maya G
4 years ago
Reply to  mamma mia

The Idan Reichel Project will perform in the interval act with this song
https://youtu.be/_uJLsc05ZE4

mamma mia
mamma mia
4 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

Nice to know, however, there’s not one time mentioned here on wiwiblogs. Last year they covered the interval acts a couple of times that I can remember.

hebbuzz
hebbuzz
4 years ago

Yuk!

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
4 years ago

Agree, dana should open semi final 1 and netta the final.

EuroSluuutty
EuroSluuutty
4 years ago

2016 was the best opening. Introducing all 26 acts while half naked models dancing and twerking on the stage

Alex
Alex
4 years ago

Why is it all about Dana? Yes, she wrote history in 1998 but she’s been in every national final and ESC party since then, it’s enough! What about Netta? It’s a shame really.

Maya G
Maya G
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Netta will open the 1st semi final with a new version of TOY, and she’ll also sing a new song in the final during the interval act.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

Also, Netta will hand over the trophy at the end (I assume).

TLV
TLV
4 years ago

Netta will open the shows in the first semi final and will also sing during the interval in the final.

Roo
Roo
4 years ago

With all these opening acts and interval acts it’s going to be a long show. Will be tired out before the contestants start to sing!

The show really needs to be shorter. Last year’s winner opens, parade of flags and then on with it.

TLV
TLV
4 years ago
Reply to  Roo

The show is exactly the same length every year including this one so it’s not going to be longer but rather more interesting.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
4 years ago
Reply to  Roo

Why does it need to be shorter? You just followed the contest a whole year trough, and all of a sudden a grand finale of three hours and fifty minutes is too much. Interval acts mostly take place during the voting procedure so they barely add any extra time to the show.

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Roo

What about 2015? The final was 5 hours long.

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

seems like it will be a veeeery long show.